Picture-exhibitor.



No. 686,965. Patented Nov. l9, l90l. L. BBETON. PICTURE EXHIBITOR.

(Application filed Apr. 9, 1901.) (No Model.)

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UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LFJOPOLD BRETON, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

PICTURE-EXHIBITOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 686,965, dated November 19, 1901.

Application filed April 9, 1901. Serial No. 54,977. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEoroLD BRETON, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Paris, France, have invented certain Improvements in Picture-Exhibitors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of devices for exhibiting a picture or pictures interspersed with advertising cards or notices in succession, but not in the manner of a kinetoscope; and the object of the invention is in the main to provide a simple and automaticallyoperative means for segregating and bringing before the eyepieces each picture of the group, one after another, and holding it in position for observation for a moment and for returning the pictures to their first position simultaneously with the winding up of the motor-spring.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the interior exhibiting mechanism. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the exhibitor. Fig. 3 is a detail sectif nal view, the plane of the section being designated by line A B in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detached sectional view of the hinging device of a picture. Figs. 5 and 6 illus trate in front View and section a modified construction of the mount for the picture.

The exhibitor or apparatus consists, as

herein shown, of a box or casing at, having in its front an eyepiece or eyepieces b, which may be stereoscopic, if desired. In this box is mounted the mechanism for supporting, segregating, and exhibiting the pictures, this mechanism being preferably supported on the back wall 0 of the box. On the back 0 are fixed two supports or bearingbrackets cl, in which is rotatively mounted a main horizontal shaft c. On the respective ends of this shaft are fixed two disks f, each furnished near its periphery with a series of holes to provide bearings for the hinging-rods g of the respective pictures or the like it to be exhibited. The pictures may be mounted on plates, and each is provided with a hinge-plate j. These hinge-plates may be constructed in any convenient manner. As a variation from this means of mounting the picture, a plate 7.: (seen in Figs. 5 and 6) may be used. This plate has keepers at three sides to hold the picture in position. The hinge-plate may be in this construction formed integrally in the plate. The rods g may be headed or flattened at one end and a cover-plate Z be fitted over their heads and secured to the disk fby a screw.

Around the shaft 6 is a volute motor-spring m, the free end of which bears against a suitable stop n, and said shaft also carries a ratchet-wheel 0, engaged by a pawl 9, carried by a disk g. This disk is fixed to a sleeve which turns loosely on the shaft e, and on this sleeve is fixed a gear-Wheel 7". This wheel 1" is connected through a train of gearing W with a regulating-fly 1- or other similar device for regulating the speed.

At the upper partof the chamber in the box is mounted pivotally a check-detent s, and a spring connected to the upper end of this detent holds lugs '16 thereon up to fixed parts of the casing. The upper edge of the picture h being displayed takes behind the detent s, and the picture is thus held upright in front of the eye piece or pieces I). The upright pictures back of the detent are held pressed up thereto by a spring h (Seen in Fig. 2.)

The apparatus is provided with a lifterframe consisting of two arms 22, provided with rollers m and adapted to turn freely about the shaft 6, being connected by transverse tie-rods to form a rigid frame. Exterior to the box and on the shaft e is loosely mounted a crank or handle e carrying on its boss within the box a radial pin or stud 2', adapted to strike or engage a tappet'y on the lifter-frame when the handle e is raised, and thus lift or swing said frame upward. A lug w on theboss of the handle is also adapted to engage a stud or pin 2' 011 the shaft 6, so that in moving the handle upward the shaft 6 will be rotated and the spring m wound up. When the handle e is elevated from its lowest position, Fig. 1, to its higher position, it elevates the lifter-frame, which takes under the exhibited pictures and raises them to their position back of the check-detent s at one operation, the detent yielding to let them pass. At the same time the lug w acts upon the stud or pin a to rotate the shaft e back and wind up the spring m, as Well as to carry back the hinge-rods g of the pictures. The

pictures being all set back of the detent s, the one next to the detent will be presented properly to the eyepieces b, and as the shaft 6 is turned slowly forward by the spring m the hinging-' rods ofthe pictures descend and draw down the latter, so as to free their upper edges one by one from the detent s, when they fall by gravity forward below the line of sight of the observer. In Fig. 2 four of the pictures are represented as fallen and one as in the act of falling.

The apparatus may be provided with any suitable stop device to enable-the observer to detain any picture at which he may be looking.

It will be noted that my exhibitor is not designed to act as a chromatrope or kinetoscope nor by continuous rotation in one direction of the rotative picture-carrier.

Having thus described my v invention, I claim 1. In apicturcexhibitor, the combination with the rotatable carrier for the pictures, means for automatically rotating said carrier forward, a spring check-detent which engages the upper edges of the pictures, and a spring back of the pictures which keeps them pressed up to the detent, of means for simultaneously winding up the motor-spring and for returning the pictures to their first or normal position.

2. In a picture-exhibitor, the combination with a rotatable picture-carrier and its shaft, and means for automatically rotating said carrier forward, of the spring check-(letent s situated above and forward of the axis of the carrier, said detent adapted to yield to permit the pictures to pass in one direction, the hinged lifting-frame and the crank or handle, loosely mounted on the shaft of the carrier and provided with the pin 1', and the lug w, the stud y on the lifting-frame to engage the pin 1' and the stud 2 on the carrier-shaft to engage the lug w.

3. A picture-exhibitor comprising an inclosing casing with an eyepiece set therein, a rotatable carrier for the pictures, a check-detent s for holding the picture in position for observation, and means for rotating said carrier backward and lifting and carrying back the pictures that have been exhibited, substantially as set forth. 7

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 15th day of March, 1901, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LEOPOLD BRETON.

Witnesses:

J ULES NUNENGACER, EDWARD P. IVIACLEAN. 

